A Life of Artistic Pursuit
Jobson Paradis was a Canadian painter born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. After completing classical studies at the University of Ottawa, he earned a Master of Arts from the University of Notre-Dame in Indiana. His journey led him to Paris, where he entered the École des Beaux-Arts to study under Jean-Léon Gérôme. During his time in France, he worked as a copyist at the Louvre from 1895 to 1898, refining his technique by reproducing works by masters such as Murillo, Titian, Rembrandt, de Vinci, Delacroix, and François Boucher. While in Europe, he traveled through Brittany, Normandy, Belgium, and Rome, and he met his future wife, Élisa Perrot, who served as his model.
Teaching and Legacy
Upon returning to North America, Paradis taught at the University of Notre-Dame for four years before settling in Montreal in 1903. He served as a professor at the Conseil des Arts et Manufactures de Montréal until 1913, instructing students including Marc-Aurèle Fortin and Alfred Laliberté. His work was featured in various exhibitions, including the Art Association of Montreal and the Royal Canadian Academy. In 1978, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec acquired a collection of 207 works from his daughter, consisting primarily of charcoal and sanguine drawings of street scenes, portraits, and landscapes, as well as a rare oil painting titled Paysage d'Arthabaska. He passed away in Guelph, Ontario.
